A FIREARMS amnesty in North Yorkshire has been hailed a success by police.

By the weekend, a total of 35 firearms, nine of which were illegal, had been handed in to police around the county.

Prohibited weapons handed in included seven handguns and two shotguns. Legal weapons which were handed in included rifles, shotguns, air rifles and pistols, and nine imitation weapons.

The scheme has also seen 216 rounds of ammunition and a knife given up.

A police spokesman said: "The knife serves to remind us that we are happy to take in any kind of weapon - not just guns - in the interest of diminishing crime and injury on the streets."

The scheme continues until April 30, with firearms being received at Northallerton, Malton, Scarborough, Ripon, Harrogate, Skipton, York and Selby police stations.

Firearms - real, imitation or toy - will be accepted, and people handing in weapons do not have to give their names.

Updated: 11:03 Monday, April 07, 2003